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Does treated systemic hypertension affect progression of optic nerve damage in glaucoma suspects?
Omar S Punjabi1, Robert L Stamper, Alan G Bostrom
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA.
Current Eye Research
|March 17, 2007
Summary
Treated systemic hypertension may accelerate optic nerve damage in glaucoma suspects. This study found faster progression in cup area, cup-to-disk ratio, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in hypertensive patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma Research
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Glaucoma suspects require monitoring for optic nerve damage.
- Systemic hypertension is a common comorbidity.
- The impact of treated hypertension on glaucoma progression is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if treated systemic hypertension influences the progression of optic nerve parameters in glaucoma suspects.
- To compare optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) changes over time between hypertensive and normotensive glaucoma suspects.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 103 glaucoma suspects (200 eyes).
- Compared 59 eyes of treated hypertensive patients with 141 eyes of age-matched normotensive controls.
- Utilized confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph) over at least 4 years.
- Analyzed progression rates of optic nerve parameters using mixed-effects regression models.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients showed significant increases in cup area and cup-to-disk area ratio.
- Hypertensive patients exhibited significant decreases in rim area, rim-to-disk area ratio, and global RNFL thickness.
- Statistically significant differences in progression slopes were observed between hypertensive and normotensive groups.
Conclusions:
- Treated systemic hypertension may be a risk factor for accelerated optic nerve parameter progression in glaucoma suspects.
- Findings suggest a potential link between blood pressure management and glaucoma progression.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and clinical implications.
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